Patents by Inventor Stephen Sposato

Stephen Sposato has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10733680
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for addressing a problem in a network using social media are disclosed. For example, the method receives social media data, analyzes the social media data to detect a trend for a service provided by the communication network, wherein the trend indicates a problem with the service, correlates an operational parameter of the communication network providing the service to the problem with the service and adjusts the operational parameter of the communication network to address the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Brady, Zhengye Liu, Stephen A. Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 10491957
    Abstract: A set-top box device includes a network interface module and a client interface module. The network interface module is configured to receive interactive content instructions and an interactive content notification over an Internet protocol data connection, and to receive an associated on-demand content video stream from a television service provider. The network interface module is also configured to connect to a website containing product information for a product associated with the on-demand content video stream. The client interface module is configured to output the on-demand content video stream, to output the interactive content notification concurrently with the on-demand content video stream in response to outputting a portion of the on-demand content video stream and based on the interactive content instructions, and to output the website currently with the on-demand content video stream in response to a selection of the interactive content notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Sposato, Orestis Manthoulis
  • Publication number: 20190228476
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for addressing a problem in a network using social media are disclosed. For example, the method receives social media data, analyzes the social media data to detect a trend for a service provided by the communication network, wherein the trend indicates a problem with the service, correlates an operational parameter of the communication network providing the service to the problem with the service and adjusts the operational parameter of the communication network to address the problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Brady, Zhengye Liu, Stephen A. Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 10249008
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for addressing a problem in a network using social media are disclosed. For example, the method receives social media data, analyzes the social media data to detect a trend for a service provided by the communication network, wherein the trend indicates a problem with the service, correlates an operational parameter of the communication network providing the service to the problem with the service and adjusts the operational parameter of the communication network to address the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Brady, Zhengye Liu, Stephen A. Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 10181135
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting advertisements is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having an inspection element that monitors packet traffic associated with an end user, and determines a behavioral profile of the end user from the monitored packet traffic, a publisher element that detects an end user visiting a website managed thereby, and generates an advertisement request associated with the website, and advertisement element that selects one or more advertisements according to the behavioral profile of the end user, and submits said one or more advertisements to the publisher element for presentation thereof to the end user. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Canhui Ou, J. Bradley Bridges, Charles R. Kalmanek, Raghvendra G. Savoor, Albert G. Greenberg, Stephen Sposato, Zhi Li, Jerold Osato, Alexandre Gerber, Oliver Spatscheck, Sun-Uk Park
  • Patent number: 9860579
    Abstract: A system for targeted advertising is disclosed having with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, having a computer program stored therein, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to map each of N channel numbers to the new and unique channel number at a set top box when a subscriber selects one of the N channel numbers, wherein each of the N channel numbers is the same in each of the K advertising groups, and wherein each of the N channel numbers is mapped to a different new channel number in each of the K advertising groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Canhui Ou, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen A. Sposato
  • Patent number: 9838895
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a packet stream at a gateway device, the gateway device coupled to a component of a content distribution system. The method also includes transmitting, from the gateway device, a wireless signal that carries data corresponding to at least a portion of the packet stream to a first device. The wireless signal is transmitted in a wireless coverage area that includes a second device configured to receive and analyze the wireless signal to produce of an assessment of the content distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Brady, Stephen Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Publication number: 20170311043
    Abstract: A set-top box device includes a network interface module and a client interface module. The network interface module is configured to receive interactive content instructions and an interactive content notification over an Internet protocol data connection, and to receive an associated on-demand content video stream from a television service provider. The network interface module is also configured to connect to a website containing product information for a product associated with the on-demand content video stream. The client interface module is configured to output the on-demand content video stream, to output the interactive content notification concurrently with the on-demand content video stream in response to outputting a portion of the on-demand content video stream and based on the interactive content instructions, and to output the website currently with the on-demand content video stream in response to a selection of the interactive content notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen A. Sposato, ORESTIS MANTHOULIS
  • Patent number: 9736543
    Abstract: A set-top box device includes a network interface module and a client interface module. The network interface module is configured to receive interactive content instructions and an interactive content notification over an Internet protocol data connection, and to receive an associated on-demand content video stream from a television service provider. The network interface module is also configured to connect to a website containing product information for a product associated with the on-demand content video stream. The client interface module is configured to output the on-demand content video stream, to output the interactive content notification concurrently with the on-demand content video stream in response to outputting a portion of the on-demand content video stream and based on the interactive content instructions, and to output the website currently with the on-demand content video stream in response to a selection of the interactive content notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Sposato, Orestis Manthoulis
  • Patent number: 9350725
    Abstract: A method includes identifying, at a security device of a secured wireless network, a wireless-enabled device that is not authorized to access the secured wireless network. The method also includes sending an access request message directed to a messaging address in response to identifying the wireless-enabled device. The access request message includes information that identifies the wireless-enabled device includes a first selectable option to allow access to the secured wireless network without requiring user input of a network password associated with the secured wireless network via the wireless-enabled device. The access request message also and includes a second selectable option to deny access to the secured wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Sposato, Kevin Meng, Cheng-Hong Hu
  • Publication number: 20150358842
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a packet stream at a gateway device, the gateway device coupled to a component of a content distribution system. The method also includes transmitting, from the gateway device, a wireless signal that carries data corresponding to at least a portion of the packet stream to a first device. The wireless signal is transmitted in a wireless coverage area that includes a second device configured to receive and analyze the wireless signal to produce of an assessment of the content distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Brady, Stephen Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 9161082
    Abstract: A method includes determining a data capacity of a first network device of a plurality of network devices that provide content to a set-top box device. In response to the data capacity satisfying a first threshold and a second threshold, sending a first command to the first network device. The first command instructs the first network device to store media content associated with a particular channel corresponding to a predicted channel change request at the first network device. In response to the data capacity satisfying the first threshold and failing to satisfy the second threshold, sending a second command to the first network device and sending a third command to a second network device. The third command instructs the second network device to store the media content associated with the particular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Canhui Ou, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen A. Sposato, Russell B. Bellford, Mung Chiang, Zhi Li
  • Publication number: 20150289026
    Abstract: A set-top box device includes a network interface module and a client interface module. The network interface module is configured to receive interactive content instructions and an interactive content notification over an Internet protocol data connection, and to receive an associated on-demand content video stream from a television service provider. The network interface module is also configured to connect to a website containing product information for a product associated with the on-demand content video stream. The client interface module is configured to output the on-demand content video stream, to output the interactive content notification concurrently with the on-demand content video stream in response to outputting a portion of the on-demand content video stream and based on the interactive content instructions, and to output the website currently with the on-demand content video stream in response to a selection of the interactive content notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen A. Sposato, Orestis Manthoulis
  • Patent number: 9143962
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a packet stream via a wireless signal from a device of a wireless information delivery system. The method includes determining wireless signal data associated with the wireless signal during a particular time interval, determining packet stream data associated with the packet stream during the particular time interval, and analyzing the wireless signal data and the packet stream data to produce an assessment of at least a portion of the wireless information delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Brady, Stephen Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 9094477
    Abstract: A set-top box device includes a network interface module and a client interface module. The network interface module is configured to receive interactive content instructions and an interactive content notification over an Internet protocol data connection, and to receive an associated on-demand content video stream from a television service provider. The network interface module is also configured to connect to a website containing product information for a product associated with the on-demand content video stream. The client interface module is configured to output the on-demand content video stream, to output the interactive content notification concurrently with the on-demand content video stream in response to outputting a portion of the on-demand content video stream and based on the interactive content instructions, and to output the website currently with the on-demand content video stream in response to a selection of the interactive content notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Orestis Manthoulis, Stephen A. Sposato
  • Publication number: 20150208110
    Abstract: A system for targeted advertising is disclosed having with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, having a computer program stored therein, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to map each of N channel numbers to the new and unique channel number at a set top box when a subscriber selects one of the N channel numbers, wherein each of the N channel numbers is the same in each of the K advertising groups, and wherein each of the N channel numbers is mapped to a different new channel number in each of the K advertising groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: David Small, Canhui Ou, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen Sposato
  • Publication number: 20150170293
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for addressing a problem in a network using social media are disclosed. For example, the method receives social media data, analyzes the social media data to detect a trend for a service provided by the communication network, wherein the trend indicates a problem with the service, correlates an operational parameter of the communication network providing the service to the problem with the service and adjusts the operational parameter of the communication network to address the problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: MARK BRADY, Zhengye Liu, Stephen A. Sposato, Jin Wang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 8997144
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring data packet traffic in a communication network for at least two of a plurality of subscriber devices associated with a subscriber; developing a holistic subscriber profile for the subscriber based on the monitored data packet traffic; selecting advertisement data for a current one of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the holistic subscriber profile and sending the selected advertising data to the current subscriber device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use in performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Canhui Ou, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen Sposato
  • Publication number: 20140304788
    Abstract: A method includes identifying, at a security device of a secured wireless network, a wireless-enabled device that is not authorized to access the secured wireless network. The method also includes sending an access request message directed to a messaging address in response to identifying the wireless-enabled device. The access request message includes information that identifies the wireless-enabled device includes a first selectable option to allow access to the secured wireless network without requiring user input of a network password associated with the secured wireless network via the wireless-enabled device. The access request message also and includes a second selectable option to deny access to the secured wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen Sposato, Kevin Meng, Cheng-Hong Hu
  • Patent number: 8813194
    Abstract: A particular method includes receiving a request to access a secured wireless local network at a security device of the secured wireless local network from a wireless-enabled device that is not authorized to access the secured wireless local network when the request is received. The method includes receiving identification information from the wireless-enabled device at the security device. The method also includes automatically sending an access request message from the security device to at least one messaging address. The access request message provides a recipient of the access request message with at least a portion of the identification information and a selectable option to allow the wireless-enabled device access to the secured wireless local network without requiring user input of a network password associated with the secured wireless local network via the wireless-enabled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Sposato, Kevin Meng, Cheng-Hong Hu